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198 results for “Cat Health, Fever”
Does Abdominal Fluid in Cats Always Mean FIP?
Fluid in a cat's abdomen, or ascites, is a sign—not a diagnosis. It can stem from liver or heart disease, kidney failure, malnutrition, or peritonitis caused by infection, viruses, or injury, and only one of those causes is feline infectious peritonitis (FIP). Because the symptom alone cannot confirm FIP, diagnosis needs bloodwork, imaging such as X-ray or ultrasound, and viral testing. If your cat shows a swollen belly, lethargy, fever, or breathing trouble, see a veterinarian promptly to find the real cause.
Why Cats Eat Less in Winter (and What to Do)
Cats are poor at regulating body temperature, so when it gets cold their metabolism slows and appetite often drops. Lower winter activity also weakens gut motility, slowing digestion and leading to reduced interest in food. Appetite loss can also signal a health problem—a chill, a cold, oral disease, or long-term cold drinking water causing stomach upset. To help, warm your cat's surroundings, feed on a fixed schedule, and boost palatability by mixing in favorites like chicken, fish, freeze-dried treats, or egg yolk, and serve food slightly warmed. If you notice sneezing, runny nose, lethargy, fever, diarrhea, or vomiting, see a vet.
How to Safely Cuddle Your Cat and Stay Healthy
Cuddling and nuzzling a cat - playfully called "sniffing the cat" - is a way owners show affection, and cats are uniquely cuddle-friendly because they barely smell. Unlike dogs, whose whole-body sweat glands make them rank without baths, a cat's scattered glands and constant self-grooming, plus sunbathing that kills bacteria, leave little odor. But close contact is not risk-free: diseases in cat feces or on the coat can pass to people. These include toxoplasmosis, cryptosporidiosis, and roundworm (mostly a kitten worry), plus Q fever from Coxiella burnetii, flea-driven skin allergies, and rarely rabies or hepatitis. Enjoy the cuddle, but wash up after, keep indoor cats' litter clean, and be extra careful if you are pregnant or unwell.
What Diseases Does the FVRCP Cat Vaccine Prevent?
The FVRCP vaccine, commonly called the cat triple vaccine, protects against three contagious feline diseases: feline viral rhinotracheitis (FVR), calicivirus (FCV), and panleukopenia (FPV, or feline distemper). It greatly lowers infection risk but is not a full guarantee. Kittens can start at eight weeks, need two to three shots three to four weeks apart, and then an annual booster. Sick or pregnant cats should not be vaccinated.
What to Do When Your Cat Has a Fever
Cats get fevers just like people, but a cat's fever is rarely simple - it can signal parasites, stress, bacterial infection, panleukopenia (feline distemper), feline herpesvirus, or various inflammations. A fever is not a small matter: left alone it can damage organs and even turn deadly. Telltale signs include hot ears and tail tip, a dry nose, sweaty paw pads, and a cat that suddenly prefers cool floors and dark corners while eating less and looking limp. Normal cat temperature runs 38-39C (about 39.3C in kittens); above 39.5C is a fever and above 40C is high. For a mild fever or when a clinic is out of reach, cool the paws and belly with alcohol and offer water, but never give human fever medicine, which can be fatal - see a vet for high fevers.
What to Do When Your Cat’s Temperature Drops to 37°C
A normal cat temperature sits between 38.5°C and 39.5°C, so a reading of 37°C is below the healthy range and worth taking seriously. The right response depends entirely on the cause. Sometimes it signals a weak or sick cat that needs warmth and a vet; other times it is a normal, expected dip just before labor. Here is how to tell the difference.
What Causes Feline Rhinotracheitis (Cat Flu)?
Feline rhinotracheitis, commonly called cat flu, is one of the most frequent infectious diseases in cats. A cat can look healthy at the breeder yet sneeze, runny nose and weepy eyes days after coming home - because the culprit herpesvirus lies dormant in nerve cells and flares when environment or nutrition changes. Importantly, cat flu is not caused only by herpesvirus; calicivirus, chlamydia, mycoplasma and Bordetella are also agents. This article explains what cat flu is, its varied causes, and how to tell the agents apart by symptoms - always confirm with a vet.
Preventing Common Spring Cat Diseases
Spring raises two risks. Urinary disease peaks in damp weather, driven by low exercise and water intake; watch for straining and act fast to avoid acute kidney failure. Colds strike with big day-night temperature swings; keep cats warm, dry, and sheltered from drafts, and seek care if they refuse food with a high fever.
Why Is a Cat’s Nose Always Wet?
A moist cat nose surprises many first-time owners, but the reason is simple: a cat sweats through only two spots on its body, and the nose is one of them. Drinking, washing, and leaving scent marks also add a little moisture. A wet nose helps with temperature control and scent marking. A dry nose is not automatically a sign of illness; it varies with season and indoor air. Only a persistently dry nose, or one that is overly wet from a runny nose, deserves attention.
Rheumatoid Arthritis in Dogs and Cats: Symptoms, Treatment, and Prevention
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, immune-mediated, erosive polyarthritis, often in small and toy breeds between 8 months and 9 years. It causes recurring lameness, stiff swollen joints, fever, and poor appetite, and can end in joint deformity. Treatment relieves pain, controls inflammation, and protects joint tissue.